Auld Lang Syne Means What?

(Image credit: Emmanuel Dunand/AFP/Getty Images)

“For last year's words belong to last year's language. And next year's words await another voice. And to make an end is to make a beginning."
― T.S. Eliot (Little Gidding)

The words to the song Auld Lang Syne traditionally sung at midnight, what do they mean? Those three words, Auld Lang Syne, which we sing in whatever voice we can muster at midnight.

Literally, they mean "old long since" or "long long time".

The "times gone by" bit is about remembering friends from the past and not letting them be forgotten. It is a call to remember old friends as time marches on while we concentrate on New Year Resolutions and finding someone to kiss at midnight.

We fondly remember the past as the future roars in.

Yes, Auld Lang Syne reminds us to remember and cherish our old friendships. They are a call to toast good health and good will for the year ahead. And with that, I give you your lyrics to sing at the stroke of midnight, tonight. (English version)

Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and old lang syne?

CHORUS:
For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we'll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

And surely you’ll buy your pint cup!
and surely I’ll buy mine!
And we'll take a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We two have run about the slopes,
and picked the daisies fine;
But we’ve wandered many a weary foot,
since auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We two have paddled in the stream,
from morning sun till dine†;
But seas between us broad have roared
since auld lang syne.

CHORUS

And there’s a hand my trusty friend!
And give me a hand o’ thine!
And we’ll take a right good-will draught,
for auld lang syne.

CHORUS

Stay inspired through out the New Year my friends!

Arriving Home

"A hospital bed is a parked taxi with the meter running." - Groucho Marx

From the internet pages of IDriveSafely.com, an article titled “Dangers of Drinking and Driving” reveals that a person is injured in a drunk driving crash nearly every 90 seconds. During the holidays, alcohol-related driving deaths nearly doubles.

This "person" could be your son, daughter, mother, father, wife, friend, co-worker or even you.

Some sobering statistics and great advice can be found on The Zebra website. How to plan ahead, best and worst times to be driving and just how much alcohol is in that drink. The party is great but just be careful to avoid a "mourning" after.

Do not become a January 1 statistic.

Enjoy the party and leave yourself capable of enjoying the days which follow. Arrive home safely and stay inspired my friends.

Today or Next Year

“Today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness and every tomorrow a vision of hope. Look well therefore to this day.”
― Francis Gray

Now that the reality of 2015 is ending and a new year is about to begin, what happened this past year and what did we learn? Did we do all of those things we promised ourselves back in late December of 2014? Are we ready for what will come in 2016?

Spoiler alert - I'm not so sure.

The life we live is full of contradiction, happiness, sadness, surprise and terror. We plan for a smooth road with rest stops along the way in perfectly timed succession. But what we get is a hilly and bumpy path which gets us sort of where we want to be.

And that path many times branches off in directions we had not planned for. Yet we continually plan and make arrangements, adjusting to the new course we are on. Life will not get in our way of achieving what we want.

So we trudge along looking for something beyond today.

You see it in our politics ... soon as someone is elected the opposing party sets their plans towards the next election instead of working today, together. The middle ground is only a future possibility once they are elected again.

You see it in our religion ... sermonizing of what a god may have for us, for our good deeds, for our religion. Knowing the future and eternity is ours if only everyone else would just get on board with our way of believing.

You see it in our culture ... the year old smartphone which is now deemed too old, too old fashioned for the bright new shiny toy. Always looking for the next big thing and never taking the time to enjoy what we do have.

To simply give up is not in the human spirit.

So we trudge along, confronting each of the day's battles yet planning of a greater tomorrow. And maybe those plans will lead us where we want, but what if we planned for today? What if we dealt with things today?

2015 is closing on the calendar and we tell ourselves of a plan for 2016.

In 2016 we will pull back from the far edges of our political arguments.
In 2016 we will live for humanity and not for a single religious ideologue.
In 2016 we will embrace what we have and marvel at what comes along.

Or we can start today, December 29, 2015.

Stay inspired my friends.

New Year Traditions

“Oh the places you'll go! There is fun to be done! There are points to be scored. There are games to be won. And the magical things you can do with that ball will make you the winning-est winner of all.” ― Dr. Seuss

How will you celebrate the new year?

Is there something you do that is completely different from others in celebrating. Maybe old family traditions or cultural celebrations that you have always "just done" because that is what you grew up with.

In Scotland, the holiday is called "Hogmanay", being one of their biggest holidays, surpassing even Christmas. The celebration is several days long and one of the traditions is to build balls from wire, paper and other flammable materials, light them on fire while swinging them round and round while walking through the streets.

Over in Romania, an old rural tradition regaining popularity, takes place with people dressing in elaborate bear costumes. These revelers then go from house to house all of the while dancing as a means to scare aware evil spirits on New Year's Eve.

You might even like a tradition that originated in Spain. As the clock rings twelve times for midnight, people eat a grape each time it rings. This custom should bring to you prosperity and good fortune in the new year. Others also believe it wards off evil spirits.

While in Italy, one custom is for people to start throwing pots, pans and old furniture from their windows at midnight. As the other customs are, this one is done as a symbolic way to reject the old in favor of the new. Doing so allows people to let go of negativity and make room in their lives for positive changes.

Traditions go on and on in many different ways.

So how will you celebrate the coming new year? Are your new year resolutions written down and ready for undertaking on January 1? Have you even thought about what a new year will bring into your life? More importantly, are you filled with positive anticipation?

Stay inspired my friends.